METHDS/PROB OF PHILOS THOUGHT

Critical introduction to philosophical problems, ideas and methods.

• TR 8:40 a.m.-9:55 a.m.
• Instructor: Jessica Collins
  Info
• 3 points

PLATO

• TR 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Wolfgang R Mann
  CULPA: 36 Info
• 3 points

SYMBOLIC LOGIC

Corequisites: PHILV3413 Required Discussion Section (0 points). Advanced introduction to classical sentential and predicate logic. No previous acquaintance with logic is required; nonetheless a willingness to master technicalities and to work at a certain level of abstraction is desirable.

• MW 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Achille Varzi
  CULPA: 30 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• 4 points

SYMBOLIC LOGIC - REC

Required discussion section for UN3411 Symbolic Logic

• M 1:10 p.m.-2 p.m.
• F 1:10 p.m.-2 p.m.
• W 1:10 p.m.-2 p.m.
• M 12:10 p.m.-1 p.m.
• Instructor: Milo Beckman
  Info
• Instructor: Noah Betz-Richman
  Info
• Instructor: Cornelia Mayer
  Info
• Instructor: Noah Betz-Richman
  Info
• 0 points

LIVING, DYING, AND THE MEANING OF LIFE

Bringing together scholars from the fields of Philosophy, Medicine, Ethics, and Religion, this course
exposes students to modes of inquiry that can help to answer central questions that are often elusive and/or
unconsidered: What constitutes a good human life? What do I need to be truly happy? How does the fact
that I will one day die impact how I should live today? This interdisciplinary course provides a rare
opportunity to consider how a wide variety of thinkers and writers have approached these questions, while
also engaging with them in a personal way within our contemporary context. Lectures will be combined
with group discussion and a weekend retreat, creating possibilities for interpersonal engagement and deep
learning.

• TR 11:40 a.m.-12:55 p.m.
• 3 points

SEMINAR

MAJOR SEMINAR IN PHILOSOPHY

Required of senior majors, but also open to junior majors, and junior and senior concentrators who have taken at least four philosophy courses. This exploration will typically involve writing a substantial research paper. Capped at 20 students with preference to philosophy majors.

• R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Allison Aitken
  Info
• Instructor: Achille Varzi
  CULPA: 30 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• 3 points

EPISTEMOLOGY

Corequisites: PHIL W3963 Required Discussion Section (0 points). What can we know? What is knowledge? What are the different kinds of knowledge? We will read classic and contemporary texts for insight into these questions.

• MW 6:10 p.m.-7:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Jessica Collins
  Info
• 4 points

EPISTEMOLOGY - REC

Required discussion section for PHIL UN3960 Epistemology.

• R 12:10 p.m.-1 p.m.
• R 1:10 p.m.-2 p.m.
• Instructor: Lisa J Clark
  Info
• Instructor: James O Beardmore
  Info
• 0 points

SUPERVISED SENIOR RESEARCH

Supervised research usually with the goal of writing a senior thesis, under the direction of individual members of the department.

• Instructor: Allison Aitken
  Info
• Instructor: David Albert
  CULPA: 32 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Akeel Bilgrami
  CULPA: 28 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Justin Clarke-Doane
  h-index: 10 Info
• Instructor: Jessica Collins
  Info
• Instructor: Melissa S Fusco
  CULPA: 1 Info
• Instructor: Haim Gaifman
  CULPA: 13 Wikipedia h-index: 30 Info
• Instructor: Lydia Goehr
  CULPA: 26 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Axel Honneth
  CULPA: 2 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Timothy Williamson
  Info
• Instructor: Tamar A Lando
  CULPA: 8 Info
• Instructor: Michele Moody-Adams
  CULPA: 20 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Christopher Peacocke
  CULPA: 4 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Carol Rovane
  CULPA: 13 Info
• Instructor: Wolfgang R Mann
  CULPA: 36 Info
• Instructor: Christia Mercer
  CULPA: 56 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Achille Varzi
  CULPA: 30 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Katja Vogt
  CULPA: 36 Info
• 3 points

SUPERVISED INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH

.

• Instructor: Allison Aitken
  Info
• Instructor: David Albert
  CULPA: 32 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Akeel Bilgrami
  CULPA: 28 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Justin Clarke-Doane
  h-index: 10 Info
• Instructor: Jessica Collins
  Info
• Instructor: Melissa S Fusco
  CULPA: 1 Info
• Instructor: Haim Gaifman
  CULPA: 13 Wikipedia h-index: 30 Info
• Instructor: Lydia Goehr
  CULPA: 26 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Axel Honneth
  CULPA: 2 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Timothy Williamson
  Info
• Instructor: Tamar A Lando
  CULPA: 8 Info
• Instructor: Michele Moody-Adams
  CULPA: 20 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Christopher Peacocke
  CULPA: 4 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Carol Rovane
  CULPA: 13 Info
• Instructor: Wolfgang R Mann
  CULPA: 36 Info
• Instructor: Christia Mercer
  CULPA: 56 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Achille Varzi
  CULPA: 30 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Katja Vogt
  CULPA: 36 Info
• 1-3 points

ARISTOTLE

• T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Katja Vogt
  CULPA: 36 Info
• 3 points

PHILOSOPHY & ROMANTICISM

PHILOSOPHY AND ROMANTICISM

• W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Wolfgang R Mann
  CULPA: 36 Info
• 3 points

ECONOMICS & PHILOSOPHY

Prerequisites: ECON W3211, ECON W3213, ECON W3412. Students will be contacted by the Economics department for pre-enrollment. Explores topics in the philosophy of economics such as welfare, social choice, and the history of political economy. Sometimes the emphasis is primarily historical and someimes on analysis of contemporary economic concepts and theories.

• M 10:10 a.m.-noon
• Instructor: Daniel Hausman
  Info
• 4 points

SYMBOLIC LOGIC

Advanced introduction to classical sentential and predicate logic. No previous acquaintance with logic is required; nonetheless a willingness to master technicalities and to work at a certain level of abstraction is desirable. Note: Due to significant overlap, students may receive credit for only one of the following three courses: PHIL UN3411, UN3415, GR5415.

• MW 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Achille Varzi
  CULPA: 30 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• 4 points

MA RESEARCH SEMINAR

The MA Research Seminar supports the research projects of MA students in Philosophy.
Participants practice key methods in philosophy and deepen their knowledge of classic and
contemporary contributions to the field. The seminar is suitable for everyone who is aiming to
write a research paper. Seminar participants receive detailed input throughout the semester.
Students can take the class at any stage during their studies for the MA. The class is graded Pass/
Fail.

• T 12:10 p.m.-2 p.m.
• Instructor: Melissa S Fusco
  CULPA: 1 Info
• 3 points

QUODLIBETAL STUDIES II

• Instructor: Allison Aitken
  Info
• Instructor: David Albert
  CULPA: 32 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Akeel Bilgrami
  CULPA: 28 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Justin Clarke-Doane
  h-index: 10 Info
• Instructor: Jessica Collins
  Info
• Instructor: Melissa S Fusco
  CULPA: 1 Info
• Instructor: Haim Gaifman
  CULPA: 13 Wikipedia h-index: 30 Info
• Instructor: Lydia Goehr
  CULPA: 26 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Axel Honneth
  CULPA: 2 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Timothy Williamson
  Info
• Instructor: Tamar A Lando
  CULPA: 8 Info
• Instructor: Wolfgang R Mann
  CULPA: 36 Info
• Instructor: Christia Mercer
  CULPA: 56 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Michele Moody-Adams
  CULPA: 20 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Christopher Peacocke
  CULPA: 4 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Carol Rovane
  CULPA: 13 Info
• Instructor: Achille Varzi
  CULPA: 30 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Katja Vogt
  CULPA: 36 Info
• 3-6 points

QUODLIBETAL STUDIES IV

• Instructor: Allison Aitken
  Info
• Instructor: David Albert
  CULPA: 32 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Akeel Bilgrami
  CULPA: 28 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Justin Clarke-Doane
  h-index: 10 Info
• Instructor: Jessica Collins
  Info
• Instructor: Melissa S Fusco
  CULPA: 1 Info
• Instructor: Haim Gaifman
  CULPA: 13 Wikipedia h-index: 30 Info
• Instructor: Lydia Goehr
  CULPA: 26 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Axel Honneth
  CULPA: 2 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Timothy Williamson
  Info
• Instructor: Tamar A Lando
  CULPA: 8 Info
• Instructor: Wolfgang R Mann
  CULPA: 36 Info
• Instructor: Christia Mercer
  CULPA: 56 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Michele Moody-Adams
  CULPA: 20 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Christopher Peacocke
  CULPA: 4 Wikipedia Info
• Instructor: Carol Rovane
  CULPA: 13 Info
• Instructor: Achille Varzi
  CULPA: 30 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• Instructor: Katja Vogt
  CULPA: 36 Info
• 3-6 points

BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

Buddhist philosophers generally agree about what doesn’t exist: an enduring, unitary, and
independent self. But there is surprisingly little consensus across Buddhist traditions about what
does exist and what it’s like. In this course, we will examine several Buddhist theories about the
nature and structure of reality and consider the epistemological and ethical implications of these
radically different pictures of the world. We will analyze and evaluate arguments from some of
the most influential Indian Buddhist philosophers from the second to the eleventh centuries,
including Nāgārjuna, Vasubandhu, Dignāga, Candrakīrti, Śāntarakṣita, Śāntideva, and
Ratnakīrti. Topics will include the existence and nature of the external world, the mind, and the
self; practical and epistemological implications of the Buddhist no-self principle; personal
identity; the problem of other minds; and causal determinism and moral responsibility.

• T 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Allison Aitken
  Info
• 3 points

SPEC TOPICS IN PHILOSOPHY

This course will focus on one topic in philosophy.

• R 10:10 a.m.-noon
• Instructor: Timothy Williamson
  Info
• 3 points

TOPICS IN METAPHYSICS

n/a

• T 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: Justin Clarke-Doane
  h-index: 10 Info
• 3 points

THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPACE & TIME

• W 6:10 p.m.-8 p.m.
• Instructor: David Albert
  CULPA: 32 Wikipedia h-index: 40 Info
• 3-6 points

ADV TPCS IN PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

ADV TPCS PHILOSOPHY OF MIND

Prerequisite: A course in the philosophy of language covering the theory of sense and reference, and contemporary developments thereof.

This course introduces and elaborates a new notion, that of an identifier. An identifier is a way of thinking of a mental state that conveys what it is like to be in the state. A positive theory of identifiers can be applied to address central philosophical issues in (1) the proper characterization of thought about conscious mental states; (2) the structure of attribution of conscious states to ourselves and to others; (3) conscious states crucial to our ability to attribute such states interpersonally; (4) our understanding of the content of music; (5) the range of psychopathologies that are best explained by lack of, or impaired grasp of, identifiers; (6) the role of identifiers in aesthetic appreciation more generally. This Seminar aims to give an overview of these applications.

• R 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Christopher Peacocke
  CULPA: 4 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

TOPICS IN EARLY MOD PHILOSOPHY

• W 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Christia Mercer
  CULPA: 56 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

TOPICS IN AESTHETICS

• M 4:10 p.m.-6 p.m.
• Instructor: Lydia Goehr
  CULPA: 26 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points

THESIS PREPARATION SEMINAR

The purposes of the Seminar are (a) to aid graduates in developing and refining material for their dissertation; (b) to give graduates experience in presenting material to a philosophical audience in an informed and supportive environment; (c) to give graduates experience in critically discussing presented material, and thereby to see how their own presentations and work can be developed to withstand critical examination. The Seminar is restricted to Columbia graduate students in their third or later years, and all such students are strongly encouraged to attend. No faculty (other than the organizer) will be present. Those attending the seminar will be expected to make one or more presentations of work in progress. The material for a presentation may range from a near-final draft of a chapter, to an early critical overview of an area with an outline plan for an approach to some chosen problem. We will attempt as far as possible to organize the presentations in such a way that they are grouped by subject-matter, and provide a rational path through the territory we cover.

• F 10:10 a.m.-noon
• Instructor: Christopher Peacocke
  CULPA: 4 Wikipedia Info
• 3 points